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Daniel Foster

Five things you didn’t know about Dr. Ben Carson

1. He has an IMDB page.

Carson has achieved worldwide recognition as a bold pioneer in the surgical separation of conjoined twins. His path-breaking work also led to a Hollywood stint. In 2003, a mutual friend put Dr. Carson in touch with the Farrelly Brothers, the comedy-directing duo behind There’s Something about Mary. The Farrellys wanted Carson to play himself in their new project Stuck on You, starring Greg Kinnear and Matt Damon as conjoined twins. Carson agreed, but on the condition that the Farrellys promised to host the premiere in Baltimore and use it to raise funds for his educational foundations. The directors agreed. Carson, along with his wife and two children, had cameos in the movie, and the Baltimore premiere raised over $400,000. And that wasn’t the end of Carson’s big-screen career. He appeared as an extra in Gifted Hands — a 2007 adaptation of his life story in which he was portrayed by Cuba Gooding Jr. …

4. He was a medal-winning marksman and a dining companion of General William Westmoreland.

Despite having joined high-school ROTC a semester late, Carson was a superstar cadet, racking up medals in drill and riflery. He flew through the ranks, moving from private to second lieutenant in a year and change and then so thoroughly acing his field-grade exams (he set a new record) that he leap-frogged straight to lieutenant colonel, and then became one of three full-bird colonels in all of Detroit. In recognition of his achievement, a 17-year-old Carson was given the opportunity to dine with General William Westmoreland, the top U.S. commander in Vietnam, and was offered a full scholarship to West Point.

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4. He was a medal-winning marksman and a dining companion of General William Westmoreland.

Despite having joined high-school ROTC a semester late, Carson was a superstar cadet, racking up medals in drill and riflery. He flew through the ranks, moving from private to second lieutenant in a year and change and then so thoroughly acing his field-grade exams (he set a new record) that he leap-frogged straight to lieutenant colonel, and then became one of three full-bird colonels in all of Detroit. In recognition of his achievement, a 17-year-old Carson was given the opportunity to dine with General William Westmoreland, the top U.S. commander in Vietnam, and was offered a full scholarship to West Point.

There’s a stark contrast between Carson and Obama. Carson achieved everything on merit. Obama had the skids greased for him because he knew the right people and knew how to manipulate people with his charisma.

He’d be an excellent Senate candidate in Michigan since he escaped Detroit poverty and Stabenow needs retiring. Unfortunately he seems to be being Herman Cain’d into the Oval Office which is ridiculous for a political freshman. But it gives those who write columns columns to write.

There’s a stark contrast between Carson and Obama. Carson achieved everything on merit. Obama had the skids greased for him because he knew the right people and knew how to manipulate people with his charisma.

OxyCon on February 14, 2013 at 8:03 PM

Oh boy, someone is adept at manipulating folks with his charisma all right, and it isn’t Obama. This guy is a master self-promoter who has already written 6 books about himself. Now he’s being mentioned as a presidential candidate on the basis of a political speech he delivered at a prayer breakfast where participants were specifically asked not to talk about politics. And folks here are falling all over him, despite the fact that he has few, if any qualifications for national office. It’s Herman Cain redux.

Oh boy, someone is adept at manipulating folks with his charisma all right, and it isn’t Obama. This guy is a master self-promoter who has already written 6 books about himself. Now he’s being mentioned as a presidential candidate on the basis of a political speech he delivered at a prayer breakfast where participants were specifically asked not to talk about politics. And folks here are falling all over him, despite the fact that he has few, if any qualifications for national office. It’s Herman Cain redux.

dr carson is “manipulating” people??? wtf. i didn’t get that impression at all.

Sachiko on February 14, 2013 at 9:27 PM

He’s “manipulating people” in the same sense that Sarah Palin “manipulated people” into thinking she was going to run in 2012. In other words, folks are projecting their hopes onto a black man from Baltimore instead of a white woman from Wasilla.

dr carson is “manipulating” people??? wtf. i didn’t get that impression at all.

Sachiko on February 14, 2013 at 9:27 PM

Let’s see, since his “star turn” at the National Prayer Breakfast, he has appeared all over national TV, announced his retirement as a surgeon, and not-so-humbly encouraged speculation about a presidential run, saying “I’ve always said if God grabs me by the collar and sticks me in that arena that’s the only way that I’d do it,” then referring to his retirement and adding “it does open up a lot of possibilities for me.”* Oh, and his latest book has shot up to #5 on Amazon’s best seller list. Ca-ching! $$$

Let’s see, since his “star turn” at the National Prayer Breakfast, he has appeared all over national TV, announced his retirement as a surgeon, and not-so-humbly encouraged speculation about a presidential run, saying “I’ve always said if God grabs me by the collar and sticks me in that arena that’s the only way that I’d do it,” then referring to his retirement and adding “it does open up a lot of possibilities for me.”* Oh, and his latest book has shot up to #5 on Amazon’s best seller list. Ca-ching! $$$